So final post from Krasnoyarsk. There is too much to write about what we have done over the past two days so instead I will end this segment of my trip with some takeaways I plan on bringing home to colleagues, students, friends and family:
1. Russians are amazing people. They are generous, funny, warm, intelligent and driven. Much of what I had been told about Russia and Russians was not correct. They smile all the time and they are warm and welcoming. The teachers at Lyceum #2 gave us such an amazing welcome and made us feel right at home (ok maybe a busier version of home :)). It was so much fun to spend time with all of them and to watch them interact with their students who clearly love and respect them.
2. School is family: It was refreshing to see that the students and staff at this school act like a giant family. They have such positive, loving interactions with one another and also with their community. I too would like to see more of this in my own school where teachers socialize on the weekends with each other and spend time helping one another and team building.
3. Motivation: I wish my students could meet and work with these students. The Russian students I have met are so driven and motivated. They work hard not because they are told to and not for some reward or prize…instead they work hard to better themselves and to be the best. I think of all the carrots we dangle in front of American students and see that is doesn’t work and I wonder how do you instill such intrinsic motivation in youth?
4. Teach a teacher: Something that this school does that I would like to do in my own school is a day where students teach their teachers something. In festival style they set up classes for their teachers to learn what they know and can teach which ranges from playing the guitar to dancing and karate. How fantastic would that be?!
5. Administrators teaching classes: In Russia it is required for all administrators to teach classes at least 8 hours a week. I think this increases the level of respect and interaction (and relationships) between students, admin and also teachers.
6. Local pride: There was a true integration of culture and history into each and every class. From math and science to language all was tied into Russia’s rich history.
7. Open Door Day: I would like to start something like this at my school. It's a day where parents and family members come into the school for the day with the student to participate in lessons or even teach them. I think this is a great way to increase parental involvement in our school.
8. My travel partners are amazing people. I was skeptical that being paired off with a total stranger (and a seemingly opposite in regard to field/experience) would be a recipe for disaster when traveling abroad, but I can truly say I had a blast with them both. I'm not sure what formula the dept of state/IREX used to pair us off, but it worked and I have never laughed so hard in all my life as I have over these last ten days. It was a true bonding experience so be pushed outside our comfort zones together and I hope to have made lifelong friends with them.
9. I, Emily, am not meant to wear closed toe heels or pantyhose….never again……
10. Russians really do like their vodka :)
So we leave Krasnoyarsk with mixed emotions…exhaustion, happiness to go home to see our families and sadness to leave our newly made friends. I never in a million years could have imagined how friendly and welcoming these people would have been. They made us feel right at home halfway around the world in Siberia. I can only hope one day to repay the hospitality when they come visit me in Florida :)
Below are a handful of the photos from the past two days touring around school, art museum, Siberia University, etc...
1. Russians are amazing people. They are generous, funny, warm, intelligent and driven. Much of what I had been told about Russia and Russians was not correct. They smile all the time and they are warm and welcoming. The teachers at Lyceum #2 gave us such an amazing welcome and made us feel right at home (ok maybe a busier version of home :)). It was so much fun to spend time with all of them and to watch them interact with their students who clearly love and respect them.
2. School is family: It was refreshing to see that the students and staff at this school act like a giant family. They have such positive, loving interactions with one another and also with their community. I too would like to see more of this in my own school where teachers socialize on the weekends with each other and spend time helping one another and team building.
3. Motivation: I wish my students could meet and work with these students. The Russian students I have met are so driven and motivated. They work hard not because they are told to and not for some reward or prize…instead they work hard to better themselves and to be the best. I think of all the carrots we dangle in front of American students and see that is doesn’t work and I wonder how do you instill such intrinsic motivation in youth?
4. Teach a teacher: Something that this school does that I would like to do in my own school is a day where students teach their teachers something. In festival style they set up classes for their teachers to learn what they know and can teach which ranges from playing the guitar to dancing and karate. How fantastic would that be?!
5. Administrators teaching classes: In Russia it is required for all administrators to teach classes at least 8 hours a week. I think this increases the level of respect and interaction (and relationships) between students, admin and also teachers.
6. Local pride: There was a true integration of culture and history into each and every class. From math and science to language all was tied into Russia’s rich history.
7. Open Door Day: I would like to start something like this at my school. It's a day where parents and family members come into the school for the day with the student to participate in lessons or even teach them. I think this is a great way to increase parental involvement in our school.
8. My travel partners are amazing people. I was skeptical that being paired off with a total stranger (and a seemingly opposite in regard to field/experience) would be a recipe for disaster when traveling abroad, but I can truly say I had a blast with them both. I'm not sure what formula the dept of state/IREX used to pair us off, but it worked and I have never laughed so hard in all my life as I have over these last ten days. It was a true bonding experience so be pushed outside our comfort zones together and I hope to have made lifelong friends with them.
9. I, Emily, am not meant to wear closed toe heels or pantyhose….never again……
10. Russians really do like their vodka :)
So we leave Krasnoyarsk with mixed emotions…exhaustion, happiness to go home to see our families and sadness to leave our newly made friends. I never in a million years could have imagined how friendly and welcoming these people would have been. They made us feel right at home halfway around the world in Siberia. I can only hope one day to repay the hospitality when they come visit me in Florida :)
Below are a handful of the photos from the past two days touring around school, art museum, Siberia University, etc...